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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 128; p. 51-61;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.128.01.06
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Section 3: Groundwater Pollution by Inorganic Contaminants

Potential contamination of groundwater by pulverized fuel ash

S. Lee1 & D. A. Spears2

1 School of Life Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, San 43-1, Yokkok 2-Dong, Wonmi-Gu, Puchon 422-743, Korea
2 Department of Earth Sciences, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield, Brookhill, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK

Disposal sites containing pulverized fuel ash (PFA) generate leaches which could contaminate surface and groundwaters. PFA has elevated concentrations of soluble salts and trace elements, including As, B, Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn, which are associated with the surfaces of PFA particles. Batch and column leaching tests in the laboratory have been used to predict the environmental impact of PFA. However, laboratory testing may not reproduce natural conditions in the field. The majority of the field-based studies have been concerned with the relatively rapid release of trace elements from the surfaces of the PFA particles. Less information is available on the longer-term leaching behaviour of field-disposed PFA, where elements may be originating from the silicate glass and minerals. Two recently completed field-based studies suggest that leachate from older PFA could potentially contaminate groundwater over a period of many years.